The Rotring 800 is the flagship mechanical pencil in Rotring’s 300/500/600/800 line. It’s the line’s only retractable pencil and the only one to use gold-colored components, which were originally found in the pencil’s predecessor, the highly sought after Rotring 600G.
The Rotring 800’s gold highlights and retractable pipe make for very attractive features in a mechanical pencil. While keeping the price under $40, often under $30, Rotring is able to make for an incredibly stylish and well-built pencil. Retracting the tip is not only a cool operation, it protects the lead sleeve (the pipe) while the pencil is not in use. This is incredibly important and practical as a bent lead sleeve can ruin an otherwise perfect pencil.
One of the cool features of the Rotring 800 is that when the pencil is retracted the button can’t be clicked, so you’ll never accidentally extend the lead while the pencil is in your bag or pocket.
One disappointing note: The Rotring 800 does not have a lead grade indicator. This is odd for a Rotring mechanical pencil, but it’s understandable because the top area — where the grade indicator exists for the other Rotring pencils — is twisted to extend the lead pipe.
The Rotring 800 is sold in black and silver and in 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm lead sizes.
Rotring 800 Drafting Pencil Information
| Street Price | Check Price |
| Manufacturer | Rotring |
| Pencil Models | 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm |
| Barrel Color | Silver, Black |
| Barrel Material | Metal |
| Body Diameter (mm) | 9.6 mm |
| Grip Color | Silver, Black |
| Grip Material | Metal |
| Knurled Grip? | Yes |
| Grip Diameter (mm) | 8.2 mm |
| Body Shape | Hexagonal |
| Capped or Retractable | No |
| Lead Advance Style | Top Button |
| Lead Color | Graphite |
| Lead Size (Diameter) | 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm |
| Similar To: | |
| Eraser? | Yes |
| Eraser Refillable? | Yes |
| Clip | Yes |
| Clip Material | Metal |
| Length Retracted (cm) | 13.2 cm |
| Body Length | 131.6 |
| Weight | 25 grams |
| Pipe Color | Gold |
| Tip Material | Metal |
| Tip Replaceable? | No |
| Pipe Type | Retractable - Twist |
| Lead Pipe Length | 4.1 mm |
| Pipe Retractable? | Yes |
| Cleaning Rod? | Yes |